Locomotive stoker



H. E. LIPPERT LocoMoiIvE STOKER March 27, 1934.

Original Filed Jan- 11, 1929 R r @K m WWW S 161 V w m \w 9 W Q I M w E cc .v\ WW 9 m .h\ N v N\ M, m V w a h, -H w\ Q m Q z Patented Mar. 27,1934 PATENT OFFICE v I 1,952,720 LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Henry E. Lippert,Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Standard StokerCompany, Incorporated, a corporation of Delaware , Application January11,

1929, Serial No. 331,755

Renewed September 16, 1933 4Claims. (01. 110-101) This invention relatesto mechanical stokers for locomotives or other steam generating devicesof the type that transfers the coal by a screw conveyor from the tenderto the firing opening of the firebox.

The main object of the invention is the provision of novel means in astoker of the type specified for distributing coal evenlyover thelocomotive firebox.

Other objects and advantages of the invention -will appear from thefollowing description and appended claims, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a vertical part sectional viewtaken on the center-line of the locomotive, the tender, and theinvention; showing the invention as applied thereon.

Fig. .2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1 andillustrates the distributing apparatus of. .the stoker.

This invention pertains particularly to the section of a stoker securedon the locomotive, but for the purpose of rendering the invention moreclear, especially to those not skilled in the art, I will describebriefly the path of the coal from the tender to the firebox.

In Figure 1 the numeral 1 represents the tender unit or trough of thestoker, which is movably mounted in the tender 2. The trough 1 isconnected at its forward end to the fixed inclined section 3 by the balljoint 4. The rollers 5, on the trough 1, rest on the tracks 6 and permitthe trough 1 to move longitudinally in the tender 2 when the locomotiveand tender travel on curves and cross-overs. The ball joint 4 allows forangular movement between the locomotive and tender as they travel oncurves, cross-overs, and turn tables.

The run-of-mine coal falls by gravity from the coal bunker '7 into thetrough 1, where a conveying screw 8 (which is driven from its rear endin the Well-known manner, not shown here) carries it forward. to aninclined conveyer screw comprising the screw sections 9 and 10 in theinclined section 3 which deliver the coal to the firedoor opening 11.The inclined screws 9 and 10 are connected to each other and to theconveying screw 8 by the universal joints 12 and 13 respectively. Byproviding a plurality of screws in the inclined section ,3, as shown,the angle of the universal joint 13 is greatly reduced from the anglethat would exist if only one screw were employed. If a single screw wereused the inclined section 3 would protrude through the cab deck 14further rearward than that shown. Thus I have a continuous uninterruptedfiow of coal from the tender to the distributing table 15. As the coalfalls over the edge or distributor head portion 16 0f the inclinedsection 3, the pressure fluid jet openings 17 distribute the coal evenlyto all parts of the firebed. The curved ribs 18 catch a portion of thefuel thrown by the jets and divert it into the rear corners of thefirebed; The fluid jet openings 17 are in connection with the coredpassage 19. The cored passage 19 has suitable pipe and valve connections(not shown) for regulating the pressure of the fluid from the jetopenings.

The inclined section 3 is held in position and rigidly secured to thelocomotive frame 20 by a suitable support 21. The forward end 22 of theinclined section 3 moves telescopically in the 'firedoor opening 11 asthe backhead 23 expands and contracts. A draft ring 24 is fitted aroundthe forward end 22 of the inclined section 3 and is secured to thebackhead 23 by the bolts 32. The purpose of the draft ring 24 is to makea seal with the inclined section 3 so there will be no back discharge ofsmoke from the fire box into the locomotive cab. The draft ring 24 isclosed at the top and sides by the flanges 25, 26, and 27, respectively,but is open at the bottom 28 for the admission of air to cool thedistributing table 15.

In a stoker where the coal is delivered through the firedoor by a screwor by jets located to the rear of the firedoor there is apt to be muchwearing on the side sheets forming the firedoor opening by the coalrubbing on the sheets while passing. To prevent this 1 use protectingflanges 29, one on each side, which keep the coal from com- 1 ing incontact with the backhead 23. These protecting flanges are secured tothe draft ring 24 by the studs 30. The protecting flanges also serve assupports for the distributing table 15 which is secured to theprotecting flanges 29 by the; studs 31.

It has been proven by experience that coal does not discharge evenly inall directions from the end of a conveying screw. That is, the bulk ofthe coal will be delivered to the side to which the conveying screwturns from the bottom of the conveying tube.

To overcome this disadvantage and thus carry out the main object of theinvention, it will be noted in Figure 2 that the end of the screw 10 isoffset a predetermined distance A from the center-line of the firedoorso that substantially the same volume of coal is delivered to each sideof the distributing table. The aforesaid center line of the firedoor ison the vertical median plane iii) of the firebox, which plane passesmedially through the distributing table 15 and the transverse series ofjet openings 17. This relation of the parts serves to equalize thedelivery of the coal from the screw 10 to the table 15 in front of thejet openings 17.

The surface of the inclined section 3, between the letters B and C,which is directly ahead of the screw 10 and in the rear of the jets 1'7,is convex so that the discharging coal will spread out and fall over thefull length of the edge 16.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have invented astoker that will occupy very little room in the locomotive cab, thatwill occupy a very small part of the locomotive cab deck and also conveycoal continuously from the tender direct to the firebox with a conveyorscrew.

I claim:

1. In combination, a firebox having an upright wall provided with afiring opening, a stoker conduit disposed in an inclined positionexternally of the firebox and having its outlet end in communicationwith said firing opening, a distributing table at said firing openingextending inwardly from said conduit, a distributor head associated withsaid table provided with a transverse series of pressure fluid jetopenings, and a screw conveyor in said conduit having its discharge endterminating adjacent the outlet end of the conduit, said discharge endof the screw being offset to one side of the vertical median planebisecting said transverse series of jet openings.

2. In combination, a firebox having an upright wall provided with afiring opening, a stoker conduit disposed in an inclined positionexternally of the firebox and having its outlet end in communicationwith said firing opening, a distributor table at said firing openingextending inwardly from said conduit, a distributor head associated withsaid table provided with a series of pressure fiuid jet openingsarranged on opposite sides of the vertical median plane of thedistributing table, and a screw conveyor in said conduit having itsdischarge end terminating adjacent the outlet end of the conduit, saiddischarge end of the screw being offset to one side of the said verticalmedian plane of the distributing table.

3. In combination, a firebox having an upright wall provided with afiring opening, a stoker conduit disposed in an inclined positionexternally of the firebox and having its outlet end in communicationwith said firing opening, a distributing table at said firing openingextending inwardly from said conduit, a distributor head associated withsaid table provided with a series of pressure fiuid jet openings spacedequally on opposite sides of the vertical median plane of thedistributing table, and a screw conveyor in said conduit having itsdischarge end terminating adjacent the outlet end of the conduit, saiddischarge end of the screw being offset to one side of the said verticalmedian plane of the distributing table.

4. In combination, a locomotive firebox having a backwall with a firingopening therein disposed equally on opposite sides of the verticalmedian plane of the firebox, a stoker conduit disposed in an inclinedposition externally of the firebox and having its outlet end incommunication with said firing opening, a medially disposed distributingtable at said firing opening extending inwardly from said conduit, adistributor head associated with said table provided with a series ofpressure fiuid jet openings spaced equally on opposite sides of thevertical median plane of the firebox, and a screw conveyor in saidconduit having its discharge end terminating adjacent the outlet end ofthe conduit, said discharge end of the screw being oifset to one side ofthe said vertical median plane of the firebox.

HENRY E. LIPPERT.

